Rhodes gave the Vanguard graceful lines, a traditional sheer, and distinctive touches also seen on his larger Alberg 35 and Rhodes 41. It’s a 32-foot-7-inch masthead sloop, with 4,250 pounds of lead ballast in a 10,300-pound hull.
Design and Construction
Rhodes combined an exceptionally shallow draft for a heavily ballasted boat with a wider beam for more room and comfort. The result is a high displacement ratio and ample ballast, making the Vanguard very stable in heavy going yet surprisingly nimble in light airs.
The single-skin hull was laid up with generous laminations of 1½-ounce mat and 24-ounce woven roving. The deck is balsa-cored, but the core stops several inches short of the rail so that stanchions and cleats land on solid fiberglass. The hull-to-deck joint is a simple sealed and through-bolted flange.
The lead ballast castings were set in a resin bed inside the hollow keel and glassed over. Inside, plywood components were taped to the hull, while a molded fiberglass inner liner formed the overhead. Vinyl covered the hull sides, and the cabin sole was teak over plywood.
A solid teak compression post stands on the head side of the forward bulkhead. As a result, the forward-cabin door is offset to starboard.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
Although the Vanguard is described as a full-keel boat, its generous overhangs, cutaway forefoot, and raked rudderpost reduce lateral area. According to reader surveys, it can turn on a dime. Backing down, however, is dreadful because of the keel-hung rudder and the propeller’s position in the aperture.
The sail plan combines a large mainsail with a small foretriangle. The boat therefore likes to carry a big headsail longer than modern practice would suggest. If the main isn’t reefed before the headsail is reduced, the Vanguard develops wicked weather helm, making tiller steering a struggle. Some owners have added bow platforms to move the headstay forward and tame that helm.
The boat was designed to sail most efficiently at about 15 degrees of heel. One owner reported making three knots to windward in 50 knots with a storm jib and trysail. A small number of Vanguards were delivered as yawls.
Accommodations
The Vanguard sleeps six in comfort, with two separate staterooms and an extra-roomy cockpit above. In the main cabin, a starboard settee/berth has a pipe berth above it. To port, an extension settee pulls out into a full-width single, with a pilot berth outboard. Together, these provide four sea berths, all just over six feet long.
The stepped coachroof gives about 6 feet 5 inches of headroom in the main cabin. Clearance in the head and forward cabin is marginally more than 6 feet. The head itself is small but includes an aluminum fold-down sink.
Two interior plans were offered. The standard arrangement has an aft galley, with the engine under the sink and no provision for an oven. The dinette layout includes a three-burner stove/oven, but its sink won’t drain with the rail down on port tack, creating a risk of overflow into the stowage and bilge. Overall, the boat offers an excellent galley area and abundant storage.
Systems and Tankage
The standard Atomic 4 gasoline engine was installed under the sink in the aft-galley layout or beneath a bridgedeck box in the dinette version. Access is tight in either arrangement.
Bronze barrel-type seacocks serve the through-hulls. Fuel and water are carried in Monel tanks: 21 gallons of gasoline sit beneath the cockpit footwell, while 45 gallons of water are stored under the main-cabin sole.
Known Issues
The built-in icebox was made from plywood and Styrofoam. It suffers from thermal leaks and poor insulation while adding excess weight.
The resin bed beneath the ballast is brittle and provides little protection in a grounding. Voids around the ballast were filled with assorted materials, including balsa that can wick water if the keel is holed.
The welded-steel mast step is bolted to the deck and has a useful life of about twenty years before rust takes it. Engine access is another drawback, as it remains tight in both interior arrangements.
Ownership and Refit
Most Vanguards weigh roughly 1,500 pounds more than their designed displacement. That’s worth remembering when comparing real-world performance with the published figures.
The vinyl hull-side covering and imitation teak-grain laminates have been popular targets for owner renovations. Bow platforms added to reduce weather helm are another example of owners adapting the CCA-era rig to modern expectations.
The Verdict
The Vanguard is a Rhodes-styled cruiser with genuine cruising volume, a shoal draft that opens up shallow waters, and a docile manner in a blow. Its weaknesses are concentrated in period construction details—the icebox, mast step, and keel ballast bed—that a careful survey and targeted refit can address.
For sailors who want traditional looks, accommodations for six, and a proven record, the Vanguard remains a sensible small-yacht choice.
Pros
- Shallow 4-foot-6 draft and heavy-ballast stability for cruising
- Roomy two-stateroom layout that sleeps six, with 6-foot-5 main-cabin headroom
- Forgiving in deteriorating weather; one owner reported clawing to windward in 50 knots
- Wide deck walkways and an extra-roomy cockpit aid safe sail handling
Cons
- Brittle ballast resin bed and balsa void filling are vulnerable to grounding damage
- Steel mast step rusts out after about twenty years and needs replacement
- Poor manners when backing down and vicious weather helm if the main remains unreefed
- Built-in icebox is poorly insulated and heavy; the dinette sink can overflow with the rail down on port tack
